Posted by: earleb
Posted by: tashi
I’d assume it would have to be the same as it is now: social pressure to not break the posted rules and sometimes people call the authorities.
Not prefect but perfect is impractical.
A problem with this is that our sport was basically built on disobeying the rules. NO trails back in the day were "legal" or sanctioned for bikes. EVERYONE rode anyway. Look at all the riding on unauthorized trails today. Someone out riding the darkside on their pedal bike is going to call in the dudes riding on their ebikes? Neither of them are supposed to be there.
We're down an ugly rabbit hole here. Anyone know the motto of the Jackson Hole Airforce? Swift, Silent, and Deep. If ebikes are banned from trails there will be a lot of riders taking up that motto.
I don’t see how this is a “problem”.
We were all “rogue”, some of us wanted legitimacy so they fought for it. They got some push back from established groups, some reasonable, some not. We all got legal trails where appropriate and got locked out of other areas.
Personally, I think that in a lot of the official areas mopeds will be a problem so I’m encouraging us to see them for what they are, a new user group, and respond appropriately. If you wish to welcome them than that’s your prerogative. My efforts will be focused on mountain bike trails.
As to your example, no, I don't expect that one rule breaker will "call in" (out?) another rule breaker. As to the rabbit hole you refer to, there's plenty of rogue riding and building that still goes on, even though we have legal trails. Many of us are already down that rabbit hole. Luckily the trails there are often hard, tight and not friendly to folks with super heavy bikes, poor handling skills and weak legs.